written by
Michael E. Loverude, Christian H. Kautz, and Paula R. L. Heron
We report on an investigation of student understanding of the first law of thermodynamics. The students involved were drawn from first-year university physics courses and a second-year thermal physics course. The emphasis was on the ability of the students to relate the first law to the adiabatic compression of an ideal gas. Although they had studied the first law, few students recognized its relevance. Fewer still were able to apply the concept of work to account for a change in temperature in an adiabatic process. Instead most of the students based their predictions and explanations on a misinterpretation of the ideal gas law. Even when ideas of energy and work were suggested, many students were unable to give a correct analysis. They frequently failed to differentiate the concepts of heat, temperature, work, and internal energy. Some of the difficulties that students had in applying the concept of work in a thermal process seemed to be related to difficulties with mechanics. Our findings also suggest that a misinterpretation of simple microscopic models may interfere with student ability to understand macroscopic phenomena. Implications for instruction in thermal physics and in mechanics are discussed.
American Journal of Physics: Volume 70, Issue 2, Pages 137-148
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Record Link
<a href="https://www.compadre.org/portal/items/detail.cfm?ID=2745">Loverude, M, C. Kautz, and P. Heron. "Student understanding of the first law of thermodynamics: Relating work to the adiabatic compression of an ideal gas." Am. J. Phys. 70, no. 2, (February 1, 2002): 137-148.</a>
AIP Format
M. Loverude, C. Kautz, and P. Heron, , Am. J. Phys. 70 (2), 137 (2002), WWW Document, (https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1417532).
AJP/PRST-PER
M. Loverude, C. Kautz, and P. Heron, Student understanding of the first law of thermodynamics: Relating work to the adiabatic compression of an ideal gas, Am. J. Phys. 70 (2), 137 (2002), <https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1417532>.
APA Format
Loverude, M., Kautz, C., & Heron, P. (2002, February 1). Student understanding of the first law of thermodynamics: Relating work to the adiabatic compression of an ideal gas. Am. J. Phys., 70(2), 137-148. Retrieved September 16, 2024, from https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1417532
Chicago Format
Loverude, M, C. Kautz, and P. Heron. "Student understanding of the first law of thermodynamics: Relating work to the adiabatic compression of an ideal gas." Am. J. Phys. 70, no. 2, (February 1, 2002): 137-148, https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1417532 (accessed 16 September 2024).
MLA Format
Loverude, Michael, Christian Kautz, and Paula R. L. Heron. "Student understanding of the first law of thermodynamics: Relating work to the adiabatic compression of an ideal gas." Am. J. Phys. 70.2 (2002): 137-148. 16 Sep. 2024 <https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1417532>.
BibTeX Export Format
@article{
Author = "Michael Loverude and Christian Kautz and Paula R. L. Heron",
Title = {Student understanding of the first law of thermodynamics: Relating work to the adiabatic compression of an ideal gas},
Journal = {Am. J. Phys.},
Volume = {70},
Number = {2},
Pages = {137-148},
Month = {February},
Year = {2002}
}
Refer Export Format
%A Michael Loverude %A Christian Kautz %A Paula R. L. Heron %T Student understanding of the first law of thermodynamics: Relating work to the adiabatic compression of an ideal gas %J Am. J. Phys. %V 70 %N 2 %D February 1, 2002 %P 137-148 %U https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1417532 %O text/html
EndNote Export Format
%0 Journal Article %A Loverude, Michael %A Kautz, Christian %A Heron, Paula R. L. %D February 1, 2002 %T Student understanding of the first law of thermodynamics: Relating work to the adiabatic compression of an ideal gas %J Am. J. Phys. %V 70 %N 2 %P 137-148 %8 February 1, 2002 %U https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1417532 Disclaimer: ComPADRE offers citation styles as a guide only. We cannot offer interpretations about citations as this is an automated procedure. Please refer to the style manuals in the Citation Source Information area for clarifications.
Citation Source Information
The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual. The APA Style presented is based on information from APA Style.org: Electronic References. The Chicago Style presented is based on information from Examples of Chicago-Style Documentation. The MLA Style presented is based on information from the MLA FAQ. Student understanding of the first law of thermodynamics: Relating work to the adiabatic compression of an ideal gas:
Is Referenced By
STP Textbook Chapter 2: Thermodynamic Concepts and Processes
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